Cable forming apparatus



Original Filed July l2, 1933 o. RICHELT CABLE FORMING APPARATUS will Y@ N YJ- 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 /ff/CHT R MSNM April 25, 1939. L.A o. REICHELT CABLE FORMING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original lFiled July l2, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 25, 1939. L, o. RElcHELT CABLE FORMING APPARATUS Original Filed July l2, 1933 M u 7 7 Mw )7 3 M LL 6 G M, 7 4 7H Z f- J NK 6 A LL 4.. 6 7^ 7 WR 5 Il- .Olodj mm U o @no o ll/IJJ; l l .9910.9 .L vw D ww A TMR/VD April 25, 1939. o RElcHEL-r 2,155,980

CABLE FORMING APPARATUS Original Filed July l2, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CABLE FORMING APPARATUS Original application July 12, 1933, Serial No. 680,037. Divided and this application May 26,

1934, Serial No. 727,690

13 Claims. l (Cl. 173-244) 'Ihis invention relates to cable forming apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for covering electrical cable cores used in transmitting telephonie conversations.

'Ihis application is a division of my eopending application Serial Number 680,037 filed July 12, 1933, which has matured to Patent No. 2,097,501, dated November 2, 1937.

An object of the invention is the provision of improved cable forming apparatus.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, there is provided mechanism for applying a crinkled or crepe paper covering which is freely expansible in a longitudinal direction and of itself conformable to irregularities in the surface of the core and which may consist of one or more strips of said paper applied to the core, by passing the strip or strips through one or more paper dies so that the paper covering completely encircles the core- Two embodiments of the invention have been shown herein wherein mechanism is provided for applying the paper to the core as the core is being fed to a press for applying a metallic sheath to the core.

The invention will be better'understood from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view, partially in section, of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View, partially in section, of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a paper forming die;

Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section along the line 5--5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view, partially in section, of one end of the paper forming die shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is another type of paper forming die;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view, partially in section of one end of the moisture proof tube shown in Fig. 1 for conveying the cable and paper to the paper forming die Fig, 9 is a cross-section of the end of the moisture proof tube shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the other end of the moisture proof tube shown in Figs. 1 and 8; Fig. 11 is a view of a cable showing a cable core with the paper applied longitudinally over the cable core;v

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are sectional views of the cable taken along the lines I2-l2, l3-I3 and I4|4, respectively, of Fig. 11;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged elevational View of the paper supply unit shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 16 is an end View, partially in section, of the paper supply unit shown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged view of the commutator 5 shown in Fig. 16, taken along the line I 'l-l'l of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a view partially in section, of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged view of means for apply- 10 ing a strip of paper over a cable core just prior to its entrance into an extrusion press;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken along the line 20-20 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is a sectional view showing an auxiliary 15 paper forming means and taken along the line 2|-2I of Fig. 19, and

Fig. 22 is a perspective view of a removable segment of a cable core guide shown in Fig. 18.

Referring to the drawings in which similar 20 parts are indicated by identical reference numerals, a preferred embodiment of the invention (Fig.

1) comprises a rotatable Ycore truck 40 having a supply of cotton bound cable core 4I thereon, a paper supply unit 42 having a supply of 'crinkled 25 or crepe paper 43 thereon in the form of a coil or package of paper in tape form having transverse crinklings, crimpllngs or corrugations, a moisture proof tube 44 through which the cable core 4| and the paper 43 pass, a metal extrusion 30 press 45 having a core tube 46 with a paper forming die 41 therein, and a take-up reel 48. The core truck 40 and the paper supply unit 42 are located in a low humidity storage oven. 'I'he core truck 40 has a base 49 and is mounted on wheels 35 50. 'The paper supply unit 42 (Figs. 1, and 15 to 17 inclusive) comprises a main supply'arbor 5l to which a metal disk 52 is secured, and having an extended shaft portion 53. The shaft portion 53 is supported by a channel member 54 and 40 a ball bearing pillow blo'ck 55. The paper 43 is secured to the supply arbor 5l by means of a` knurled portion 56 and a clamp nut 58. A tension arm is rotatably secured in a pair of lever pivot arm supports 6l. A tension paddle brake and limit indicating lever 59 is secured to the arm 60. A steel cable or rope 62, one end of which is connected to the tension arm 60 passes around a pulley 63, the other end oi the cable 50 62 is connected to one end of a paddle tension spring 64. 'I'he tension spring 64 tends to move the paddle brake and limit indicating lever 59 upward. It provides a definite tension on the paper 43 as it is'unreeled, and also, as described 55 below, operates an indicator to show when the paper is about exhausted.

The channel member 59 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to a metal base 65. An axle 65 having a pair of wheels 61 is secured to one end of the metal base |35. A switch 68, arranged to be operated by the tension arm 59, is connected in series with a pad limit lamp 59 and' a source of potential 19. The switch is adjusted to close and light the pad limit lamp 99 when the paddle brake and limit indicating lever 59 reaches a predetermined height. A brush holder 1| and a brush 12- are secured to the shaft portion 53 and arranged to rotate with the shaft portion 53. A commutator 13 having ,a plurality of contacts 19 is secured by means of a commutator holder 'i5 to the channel supporting member 53. One side of each of a plurality of pad rotation indicating lamps "l5 are connected by means of conductors 19 through a plug l1 and a jack-box 19, to the contacts 14 of the commutator 13. The brush 12 is connected through the source of potential 19 to the other .sides of the lamps 16. The lamps 69 and 16 are located on the outer wallf19 of the low humidity storage oven as shown in Fig. 1 and enable the operator of the extrusion press to determine Whether the paper supply unit 42 is functioning properly'and also when the supply of paper 43 is becoming low. Paper tensioning ngers 89, through which the paper 43 passes, are secured to the inner side of the wall 19.

'I'he rear end of the moisture proof tube 44 (Figs. l, 8, 9 and 10) is slidably mounted in a holder 8| inserted in an opening of the Wall 19. The front end'of the moisture proof tube 44'is pivotally secured in a holder 82 attached to the extrusion press 45. As shown in Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive, the moisture proof tube 44 has an upper compartment or passageway for the'cable core 4|, and a 'lower passageway for the paper 43.

. The forward end of the moisture proof tube 44 (Figs. 9 and 10) is provided with hinges s3 and 84 so that the upper and lower compartments at theforward end can be. opened to facilitate the insertion of the cable'core 4| and the paper 43 through the paper forming die 41.

. The paper forming die 41 (Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive) is held in position at the rear end thereof by the holder 82 which has a flat surface to engage with the flat portion 85 of the die 41, and is held in position on the front end thereof by the conical nose 86 which engages a corresponding inner surface at the forward end of the core tube 81. As the paper 43 and the cable core 4| pass through the die 41, the-paper 43 yis iirst formed into a U-shape'by means of tle lips 88 and 89 (Fig. '4) and the cable core 4| is pressed downward against the paper 43 by means of a projection 90. The neck 9| of the die 41 is formed with a lower fin-like portion 92 and an upper nlike portion 93, and gradually tapersto the conical nose 86. As the paper 43 passes through the neck 9| of the die 41, one edge is beneath the lower iin-like portion 92 and the other edge between the upper iin-like portion 93 and lower iinlike portion 92, as shown in Fig. 5. As the cable core 4| and paper 43 emerge from the nose 86 of the die 41, the paper is wrapped around the cable core as shown in Fig. 13. The die 94 shown in Fig. 7 is similar to', though simpler in design than,

the die 41 shown in Fig. 3, and may be used in some cases. The paper covered cable core passes out of the core tube 81 and a sheath of lead 95 is extruded thereover by the extrusion press 45,

which may be of any suitable type well known. in

aisance the art. rI'ihe cable is propelled through the apparatus by the leadextrusion press and wound on the take-up reel 43, which is rotated by any suitable means, such, for example, as the rotating floor rollers 95 (Fig. 1).

In another preferred embodiment shown in Figs. 18 to 22, inclusive, the crepe paper 43 is applied over the cable core l i, in the low humidity storage room, by means of a paper forming die |39, which is similar to the forming die 94 (Fig. 7). A cable i coreguide tube |3| is employed to position the cable core lli properly with reference to the die |39. ri'he cable core guide tube |3| and one end Y core guide tube |35 -is fastened to the extrusion press 45 by means of a nipple |36. A cable core guide |31 is secured to the guide tube |35. A cable core coniining medium, which has been shown as a exible spring |39, passes through a bell-mouth |48 in the wall 19, and is secured to the paper forming die |39 and to the cable core guide by means of a support |4| Other conning mediums such as flexible tubing may be used in place of the spring |39. The flexible spring |39 prevents the paper 43 from separating from the cable core 4| and at the same time provides a means for visual inspection of the condition of the paper over the cable core;

If the paper 43 has a defective portion it can 'be readily detected as it passes through the spring |39 and the defective portion can be repaired by converting the cable core guide |31 into an auxiliary die |42 (Figs. 19 and 21). 'I'his is accomplished by removing a segment |43 (Fig. 22) from y the cable core guide |31 and inserting in its place a conical forming lip |44 (Fig. 21) and moving the spring support |4| away from the cable core guide |31, as shown in Fig. 19. A supply of calcium chloride |46 or other suitable material is preferably kept in the bottom of the box |45 to keep the paper 43 dry. The paper 43 is led from the box |45 over the roller |41 and through the auxiliary die |42, as shown in Figs. 19 and 21.V The upper portion of the guide tube |35 adjacent the die |42 (Fig. 19) has an opening which conforms to the projection |49 on the segmet |43.. The paper 43 is fastened to the cable core at this point by means of a strand |48. The auxiliary supply may be disconnected as soon as the defective portion has been repaired, or may also be used as a permanent forming means when the main supply unit 42 is not functioning.

While the spring v|39 has been shown connected' to the cable core guide |31 by means of the spring support |4 I, the core guide |31, spring support |4|, nipple |36 and guide tube |35 may be omitin character and is not to be construed as limited 75 to the particular embodiment shown, since numerous modifications thereof may be made by persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of applicants invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cable forming apparatus having means to propel a cable therethrough, a core truck for a supply of cable core, a die for forming a layer of paper over the cable core transversely of the cable core, a supply means for said paper, and an extrusion press for applying a protective covering over said paper covered cable core, said extrusion press having a hollow core tube, and said die extending into said core tube and arranged to complete the formation of the paper covering around said paper covered cable core within said core tube and said core tube holding said paper covering in place until said protective covering is applied thereover.

2. In a cable forming apparatus having means topropel a cable therethrough, a storage oven, a core truck for a supply of cable core within the oven, a paper supply mea-ns for a supply of paper Within the oven, an extrusion press, a moisture proof tube between the oven and the extrusion press having an upper compartment through which the cable core isv adapted to pass and a lower compartment through which the paper is adapted to pass, and a paper forming die within said extrusion press.

3. In a cable forming apparatus having means to propel a cable therethrough, a storage oven, a core truck .for a supply of cable core Within the oven, a paper supply means for a supply of paper within the oven, an extrusion press, a moisture proof tube between the oven and the extrusion press having an upper compartment through which the cable core is adapted to pass and a lower compartment through which the paper is adapted to pass, and a paper forming die within said extrusion press, said paper supply means comprising a rotatable supply arbor on which the paper is secured, an indicator, a paddle to apply a tension to the paper and to cause the actuation of the indicator when the supply of paper is exhausted, and means for indicating whether the supply arbor is rotating or stationary.

4. In a cable forming apparatus having means to propel a cable therethrough, a storage oven, a core truck for a supply of cable core within the oven, a paper supply means for a supply of paper within the oven, an extrusion press, a moisture proof tube between the oven and the extrusion press having an upper compartment through which the cable core is-adapted to pass and a lower compartment through which the paper is adapted to pass, and a paper forming die within said extrusion press, said paper forming die having a pair of lips for forcing the paper around the exterior of the die, a projection for forcing the cable core into position within the die, and upper and lower iin-like portions for forcing the paper transversely around the cable core.

5. In a cable forming apparatus having means to propel a cable therethrough, a storage oven, a core truck for a supply of cable core within the oven, a paper supply means for a supply of paper within the oven, an extrusion press, a vmoisture proof tube between the oven and the extrusion press having an upper compartment through which the cable core is adapted .to pass and a lower compartment through which the paper is adapted to pass, and a paper forming die within said extrusion press, said paper forming die having a pair of lips for forcing the paper around the exterior of-the die, a projection for forcing the cable core into position within the die, and upper and lower iin-like portions for forcing the paper transversely around the cable core, said paper supply means comprising a rotatable supply arbor on which the paper is secured, an indicator, a paddle to apply a tension to the paper and to cause the actuation of the indicator when the supply of paper is exhausted, and means for indicating whether the supply arbor is rotating or stationary.

6. In a cable forming apparatus having means to propel a cable therethrough, an oven, a core truck for a supply of cable core within the oven, a 'paper supply means for a supply of paper within the oven, a paper forming die through which the cable core and the paper are adapted to pass for forming a covering of paper over the cable core within the oven, an extrusion press, and a flexible confining medium means between the oven and the extrusion. press through which the paper covered cable core is adapted to pass to prevent the paper from separating from the cable core as it passes from the forming die to the extrusion press.

7. In a cable covering apparatus having means to propel a cable therethrough, an oyen, means within the oven for forming a paper covering over a cable core, an extrusion press, and a conning means between the oven and the extrusion press through which the paper covered cable core is adapted to pass to prevent the paper from separating from the cable core as it passes from the oven to the press.

8. In a cable forming apparatus having means to propel a cable therethrough, an oven, means within the oven for forming a paper covering over a cable core, an extrusion press, means between the oven and the extrusion press for forming an auxiliary paper covering over the cable core and means between the auxiliary cover forming means and the extrusion chamber of the press to retain the auxiliary covering in place.

9. In a cable forming apparatus, a support for a supply of cable core, a support for a supply of crimped paper tape, a drying oven for the storing of the cable and paper supplies and their supports to remove moisture from the core and tape, means to withdraw the core and tape from the oven, means to combine the core with the tape as a cover, and means to exclude during said withdrawal access of moisture therefrom.

l0. In a cable forming apparatus, a support for a supply of cable core, a support for a supply of crimped paper tape, a drying oven for the stor-l ing of the cable and paper supplies and their supports to remove moisture from the core and tape, means to withdraw the core and tape from the oven, means to combine the core with the tape as a cover, means to exclude during said withdrawal access of moisture therefrom, and means to eX- trude a seamless sheath of metal over the tape during continued exclusion of moisture therefrom. v

11. In a cable forming apparatus having means to propel a cable therethrough, a drying chamber, means in the chamber for holding a supply of cable core, means in the chamber for holding a supply of paper tape, means for applying the tape longitudinally both of itself and of the core to the core and forming the tape into a tube about the core in which every cross section of the tape at right angles to the length of the tape is kcompletely closed 'by the mutual contact of the opposite edges of the tape, means for applying a protective covering of metal over the tape, means to prevent access of moisture to the dried core and dried tape while the tape is being applied to the core and While the protective covering is being applied, and means to retain the tape in position on the core While passing from the tape applying means to the protective covering applying means.

12. In a cable forming apparatus, a support for a supply of cable core, a support for a supply of crimped'paper tape, a drying oven for the storing of the cable core and paper supplies and their supports to remove moisture from the core and tape, means to withdraw the core and tape from the oven, and means to combine the core with aimee@ supports to remove moisture from the core and tape, means to withdraw the core and tape from the oven, means to combine the core with the tape as a cover immediately upon the removal thereof from theoven thereby excluding access of moisture therefrom, and means to immediately extrude a seamless sheath of metal over the tape. 

